Spoke tightener having springclosed nut-engaging jaws spaced from spoke-receiving notch



J. ACCOLA SPOKE TIGHTENER HAVING SPRING-CLOSED NUT-ENGAGING JAWS SPACED FROM SPOKE-RECEIVING NOTCH Filed Dec. 9, 1948 15 16 2 29 K 5 JNVENTOR. 4i Jacoiyzccda JO B Patented Get. 10, 1950 SPOKE TIGHTENER. HAVING SPRING- CLOSED NUT-ENGAGING JAWS SPACED FROM srona-anonrvme NOTCH Jacob Accola, Davenport, Iowa Application December 9, 1948, Serial No. 64,335

The present invention relates to a spoke-tightening tool, which comprises a pair of relatively movable parts having cooperating portionsproviding complementary faces or jaws that are always in overlapping parallelism, so that a firm 1 grip is obtained on a spoke nut or like piece.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of spring-loaded or yielding means normally biased to urge the partsrelatively toward each other to influence closing or gripping action of the jaws and in the provision of means on the tool, in addition to the jaw means, arranged for engagement with a spoke or like piece in spaced relation to the jaw means, whereby the tool is temporarily and releasably held in place so that manipulation thereof is facilitated.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more readilyapparent as the following detailed description progresses in connection with'the accompanying ment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an oblique view of the tool, showing the general construction and use thereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the base or body member by itself; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the complete tooli use as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary oblique View of a spoke and spoke nut;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged relatively schematic front view of the tool showing the relationship of the jaw faces to a spoke nut of one particular size;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing 5 Claims. (01. 81-111) trated as being generally rectangular in shape and including front and rear end portions I I and I2 respectively and upper and lower portions I3 and I4 respectively. In this respect, the terms front, rear, upper and lower are used here and in the appended claims in their relative sense for the purposes of convenience and clarity of description. Obviously the tool may assume various positions in use; hence, these terms or eX- pressions should not be taken as in anyway limiting the invention.

As best shown in Figures 2, 6 and '7, the for- Ward end portion ii of the member It is bifurcated or otherwise formed to provide a slot or opening I5 which opens at the front end and which extends back into the member, the construction thus providing a pair of transversely spaced-apart lugsorportions I6, I 1. These lugs respectively have confronting inner or interior the tool used with a spoke nut of larger size;

and V v Fig. 8 is an enlarged rear elevationalview of the base or body member shown in Fig. 2.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate substantially the actual size of the tool. Figures 5 to 8 are substantially plane surfaces or faces I8 and I9 which extend between the upper and lower surface portions IBandI I. Y

As best shown in Figures Sand 7, the faces I8 and I9 are obliquely relatedso that the slot I5 is wedge shaped as viewed from the front. The face I8lies in a' plane normal to the upper and lower horizontal surfaces I3 and Id; and the face I9 lies in a plane that is lengthwise of the member It and that is further inclined to the plane of the face I8. '1

The body or base member IE] is provided rearwardly of the slot I5 with a longitudinally extending opening or recess 29. This recess is intersected by the axis of a pair of ooaxially alined bores 2 I, which provide part of pivot means to be subsequently described. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lug or portion I6 maintains its height for a substantial distance along one side of the member If), as indicated by the numeral 22. The purpose of this feature will be brought out below. I

The tool or wrench includes a second or movable member designated generally by the numeral 25. This member is disposed above and has its length substantially coextensive with that of the 'body member I0, and includes a forward part 26, an intermediate part 21 and a rear part 28. As best shown in Figure 4, the intermediate part 2! depends into the opening or recess 2n and is apertured to receive a pivot pin 28* which is passedthrough the alined bores or apertures ZI.

The forward or front part 26 is in the form of a wedge-shaped portion or element which de pends into the slot l5. 7 The shape of the part or portion 26 as a wedge provides on the part a pair of obliquely related external surfaces 23 and 30. As best shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 these surfaces are respectively cooperative with or complementary to the interior surfaces 18 and IQ of the body member ID. The pivotal mounting of the member 25 on the member I is such that the members are movable toward and away from each other in a defined path which includes a plane intersected by and normal to the pivot axis through the pin 28. The length of the portion 16-22 lies alongside one side of the member 25 (Fig. 3) and thereby provides a control or guide means for controlling relative movement between the members in the sense that relative transverse displacement of the membersin at least one direction-is prevented,

As best shown in Figure 4, the rear part 28 of the member 25 inclines upwardly so that it is spaced above the upper surface portion l3 of the member if) and the proximate portions of the two members are drilled or otherwise appropriately recessed to receive opposite ends of a small compression spring 3 I. This spring provides yielding or spring-loading means for infiuencing movement of the movable member toward the base member so that the jaw part 26 of the member 25 is urged into effective position in the slot [5.

Figure 5 illustrates in representative fashion a spoke of the type commonly found in the wheels of bicycles or like vehicles. In this figure the numeral 35 designates the spoke and the nu meral 36 designates a spoke nut. As is well known, the inner end of such spoke is attached to the hub of a wheel (not shown) and the outer end portion, including the nut 36, is received by the wheel rim (also not shown). The outer end portion of the spoke is externally threaded, as at 31, to receive the nut 36, which is, of course, internall threaded. The nut is provided with diametrically opposite flats 38 for receiving spoketightening tools, such as that embodied in the present invention.

As previously stated, it is a feature of the present invention to provide the cooperative jaw or gripping faces I!) and 30 and to arrange the members that carry these jaws so that the jaw faces are constantly parallel, thus facilitating the grip of the jaws on the flats 38 or on like parts of similar work pieces. The compression of the spring 3| maintains the grip of the jaw faces on the work and the combination of the yielding means and the variable parallelism of the jawfaces automatically accommodates the faces to work pieces of different sizes, as will be evident from Figure 7, wherein a larger spoke and spoke nut assembly is illustrated, being designated by the numerals 35 36 and 38 which correspond respectively to the numerals 35, 36 and 38 used in the description of Figures 1 through 6. V

The relationship of the rear end portion I2 of the body member [0 and the rear part 28 of the movable member 25 is such that these parts provide elements in the form of finger pieces which may be engaged by an operator between the thumb and forefinger, whereby the pressure applied will be against the action of the spring and will result in separating or increasing the gap between the jaw faces I9 and 30.

In order that the use of the tool or wrench may be further facilitated, the rear end portion 1 2 of the body member I0 is provided at one corner thereof with an upstanding element or lug flllwhich is recessed or otherwise appropriately shaped to provide a hook 4| substantially in alinement with the gap between the jaw faces l9 and 30 along a line running lengthwise of the tool. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the function of the hook 4| is to engage or hook over a portion of the spoke spaced inwardly from the spoke nut 36, thus providing additional means for releasably and temporarily retaining the tool in place so that no effort is required other than that involved in turning the nut to tension the spoke.

When the tool is engaged with a spoke nut or like work piece, as shown in Figure 3, the rear part 28 of the member 25 is relatively close to the inner portion of the hooked 111g 40, so that the space between these proximate portions is substantially less than the diameter of the spoke 35, as at 42 (see Fig. 1), thus providing means for preventing accidental escape of this portion of the spoke from the tool. When the finger piece or part 28 is fully extended, as when the tool is not engaged with a work piece, the space at 42 will be increased sufficiently to receive the spoke. In addition, a forward corner of the hooked lug 40 is relieved at 43 (Figures 1 and 3) so that insertion or removal of the spoke at an angle to the tool may be deliberately accomplished.

The operation of the tool will, it is believed, be apparent from the description of the structure and various features thereof. Other features and objects of the invention not specifically pointed out will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as likewise will various modifications and alterations in the preferred structure illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gripping device for handling elongated work pieces, comprising: first and second members having portions substantially coextensive in length and respectively including cooperative jaws to grip a work piece; means interconnecting the members for relative movement toward and away from each other to vary the grip of the jaws on such work piece; a first retaining part on one member spaced lengthwise from the jaws; and a second retaining part on the other member proximate to the first retaining part and complementary thereto and cooperative therewith to provide releasable means for engaging the work piece at a portion thereof spaced from the gripped portion thereof, said parts being relatively movable, upon relative movement of the members, to open Or close for releasing or retaining said portion of the work piece.

2. A tool for handling elongated work pieces, comprising: first and second members having portions substantially coextensive in length and respectively including cooperative elements to engage a Work piece; means interconnecting the members for relative movement toward and away from each other to open or close the elements for releasing or engaging such work piece; a first retaining part on one member spaced lengthwise from the elements; and a second retaining part on the other member proximate to the first retaining part and complementary thereto and cooperative therewith to provide releasable means for engaging the work piece at a portion thereof spaced from the elementengaged portion thereof, said parts being relatively movable, upon relative movement of the members, to open or close for releasing or retaining said portion of the work piece.

3. A spoke-handling tool of the character described, comprising: an elongated body having front and rear ends; means at the front end of the body providing a spoke-nut-engaging jaw; means including a notched lug at the rear end of the body for receiving a spoke portion spaced from such spoke-nut; a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to a portion of the body intermediate said front and rear ends and having at one end a jaw complementing and cooperative with the body jaw, said lever having at its other end a portion cooperative with said notched lug to selectiv'elyblock or uncover the notch for confining or releasing a spoke.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, further characterized in that: yieldable means is arranged and cooperative between the body and lever for urging the lever in such direction as to uncover said notched lug, said lever having an intermediate position wherein the jaws are spaced apart by a spoke nut gripped therebetween and wherein the notched lug is blocked as aforesaid.

5. The invention defined in claim 3, further characterized in that: the body has upper and lower surfaces; the notched lug is upstanding from theupper surface; the lever is pivoted for movement above the upper surface; and the end of the lever having the lug-blocking or -releasing portion is directed upwardly and rearwardly from the upper surface to such extent as to provide, when the jaws are fully closed, a gap between said portion and the lug through which a spoke may pass, said lever portion serving as a thumb piece to be depressed for opening the jaws, and said lever portion further presenting to the notched lug a face generally normal to the pivot and movable to block the notched lug as said portion is depressed to open the jaws.

JACOB ACCOLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 624,849 Nicol May 9, 1899 634,175 Levin Oct. 3, 1899 1,406,467 Motthey Feb. 14, 1922 

